Paper file and binder



Nov. 12,

A. E. BUNNELL PAPER FILE AND BINDER Filed Oct. 1, 1938 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

leaf binders. not too great care, it becomes very important not More in particular the invention relates to a to lose any of the prescriptions.

novel structure for maintaining the file or binder- Heretofore the binders employed by druggists 5 prongs so that they will be positively held and for this particular purpose have been very satislocked While in closed position, but will allow the factory with the one exception that at times the prongs to be moved to open position to allow prongs become loosened from their closed posiready insertion or removal of perforated sheets tion when not so intended, and the-danger of of paper. prescriptions thus becoming lost becomes great. 10

One of the features of this invention is to pro- It is desirable, therefore, in a file or binder of vide a novel type of positive means for locking this nature t overcome this defect, and this inthe prongs of a loose-leaf file or binder construcvention provides a very simple and thorough tion in closed position, and to make such novel means for maintaining the pivoted prongs in 15 .25 edges which, in prior-like devices, have cut the operation of one or two other elements making forated sheets of paper bound therein under cir- A preferred embodiment of the invention is discumstances of hard usage. closed in the attached drawing, wherein: Astill further feature of the inventionisto pro- Fig. 1 represents, in part, a portable file, or 35 vide a novel design of one of the portions of the loose-leaf binder, showing the incorporation of binder so that it may be quickly, and accurately the invention herein. stamped and shaped to thereby assist in reducing Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. the cost of production. showing part of the binder in section and y 55 prongs will not be freed under rough usage. In finger piece for the end of the slide member; and 55 Patented Nov. 12, 1940 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- PAPER FILE AND BINDER Albert E. Bunnell, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to Modern Office Devices, Inc., New York, N. Ye, a. corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1938, Serial No. 232,761

6 Claims. (Cl. 129-24) This invention pertains to improvements in such prescription files, where there is a great deal portable files that receive perforated sheets of of handling and use of the file and the loosepaper. These files are often referred to as looseleaves are fingered very often, and handled with means of simple construction, yet positive in its their closed positions. Acknowledgment is made action and not dependent upon a spring element of the simplicity of the structure herein for acor separate member to maintain the prongs in complishing the desired ends. However, it is closed it n, pointed out that a need has been met in a very 20 Another feature of this invention is to provide simple manner, but in a very thorough and satis- 20 part of the novel locking means in a form that is factory manner that has been particularly acvery simple for manufacture and assembly, and ceptacle to this particular use. part of the construction is provided with novel The mechanism for accomplishing this end finger grasps that are rugged and eliminate sharp preferably includes a main element and the cofingers of the operator. up the file or binder structure.

A further feature of the invention is the novel The invention disclosed herein may b massembly of the parts of the apparatus so that p-loyed in other types of files or binders which reall of the elements cooperate to form a most ceive perforated loose-leaf sheets. 30 satisfactory locking means to hold the prongs Other features and objects of the invention 30 of the binder definitely in locked positiOn thereby herein will be appreciated as the later detailed to eliminate the spilling of the pages or perdescription is presented.

40 It is well known and well understood that portshowing the fastening means holding the prongs able files, or any of the loose-leaf binders, should in their normally closed positions. 1 have a ery definite type of locking means so that Fig. 3 is a view on the same line as Fig. 2 showthe perforated papers will not be allowed to fall ing the fastening means pushed aside to allow out of the file or binder in spite of rough usage or the prongs to be removed from the closed posithe throwing around of the file. tion. 45

As a particular instance in which the rugged- Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken on th ness f such files is particularly desirable, and line 44 of Fig. 1, showing the back of the prongoftentimes necessary, is in the portable files emholding structure. ployed by Chemists, apothecalies, a d d u gis s g. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line where they keep the various formulae or prescrip- 5-5 of Fig. 4. 50 tions which they are required to fill and have the Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the same for ready reference. Those particular files slide member with one form of finger piece on or binders must be of the loose-leaf type and very the end thereof. rugged, and particularly constructed so that the Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another type of Fig. 8 is a plan view of the stamping from which the slide plate is formed.

Referring now in detail to the drawing. A portable file with loose-leaf binders is shown in Fig. 1, as being composed of a back l5, and two covers it and ll, and a suitable type of structure employed to hold perforated sheets between the covers. This holding structure or device is made so that the sheets may be quickly inserted or removed therefrom.

In providing a suitable sheet-holding structure, many separate parts may be employed, some of them being separately and definitely attached to the back l5, or several of them being assembled to form a unit which is mounted on or attached to the back it of the binder.

In any such structure there is provided means for holding the prongs so that they may be moved to and from closed position, and in this preferred structure there is provided any suitable means for receiving and holding the ends of the prongs in closed position.

In the preferred type of sheet holding means or device described herein, there is provided a back element 18 having an upright [3 which receives prongs 26 and 2| and has them preferably pivoted in the over-turn portion 22. The back i8 is also provided with a second upright 23 in which there is provided slots 24 and 25 for receiving the free ends of the prongs and 2|.

In providing a suitable means for positively locking the prongs in their closed positions, without requiring spring elements, or other complicated or additional elements, there may be employed any suitable device which definitely cooperates with the upright 23, or may cooperate entirely alone with the ends of the prongs to hold the prongs in their closed position during rough usage.

In the preferred type of positive locking mechanism, a slide plate 26 is provided, and is suitably mounted on upright 3 in a manner to slide back and forth thereon to close over the ends 'of the prongs when positioned in their slots 24 and 25, or to allow the prongs to be opened outwardly from the slots so as to discharge or receive additional perforated sheets.

It is preferred to make the slide plate 23 so that it may be satisfactorily mounted on upright 23 and form a cover portion to overlap the top edge of upright 23. This cover portion extends over the slots 24 and 25. In this cover there are provided openings or slots 27 and 28 which will register with slots 23 and when the slide plate is pushed to the left, as shown in Fig. 3 to allow the prong ends to be moved out of slots 24 and 25, and will close over those slots when pushed to the right as indicated in Fig. 2 to cover over the ends of the prongs.

One simple form of positive and effective means for locking the prongs in their closed positions in slots 24 and 25 is shown as knobs 29 and. 30, indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. These knobs, in one of their simplest forms, constitute turned down ends of the cover portion 3! of slide plate 26 adjacent the slots 27 and 28. These knobs are turned down sufiiciently so that after passing over the prongs 20 and 2|, while positioned in slots 24 and 25, a very definite amount of energy must be applied to the finger piece 32 to positively push the slide plate to a position to allow the prong ends to be removed. It will be understood that, if desired, there may be a plurality of prongs and only one of the knobs to engage with one of the prong ends.

When the prong ends have been dropped into slots 2s and 2'0 and the plate 26 moves towards the right to lock the prongs in closed position, there is a definite engagement of the knobs 23 and to with the prongs and considerable energy must be applied to finger pieces 32 in order to push the slide plate 26 to the open position.

.L'hlS preferred structure is made so that the knobs 2s and Sin shall very definitely prevent the slide plate 26 from moving to open position after closing the ends of the prongs in closed position without a relatively material amount or energy being expended. This feature is accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by having the knobs 2e and 3B sufficiently large so that they positively engage and will not readily pass over the ends of the prongs 20 and 2i. It is preferred to have these knobs large enough so that, in closing over the slots 24 and 25, it will be found desirable and helpful in order to make easy closing to push the prongs downwardly so as to oscillate or pushing back upright 23 about the axis where it joins the back 18 and then the slide plate 26 is readily and easily moved to closed position. Thus, the engagement of knobs 29 and 3i] with the ends of the prongs in the closing is not so strong as the knobs have been oscillated back from the ends of the prongs to an extent that permits the slide plate 26 to be readily moved to closed position. However, in any event, there is preferably always a very definite engagement of the knobs 29 and with the ends of the prongs, After the plate 26 has been moved to closed position, it is not readily moved to open position as the knobs would then very definitely and positively engage the prong ends.

The preferred'structure of the slide plate so that it very definitely cooperates with and is received by the upright 23 is particularly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Preferably the plate 26 is mounted on upright 23 by having a holding plate 34, which is somewhat resilient, and which is provided with rivets 35 and 36 that slide in slots 37 and 38 of upright 23, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The preferred structure of slide plate 26 at its upper end, is to have a U-shape off-set 40, as indicated in Fig. 5. One reason for this off-set 40 is to allow the ends of prongs 20 and 2| to extend beyond the slots 24 and 25 and engage the offset 66 as shown in Fig. 5, thus making it easier to bend or oscillate upright 23 by pressing down on the prongs and allow the slide plate 26 with the knobs 29 and 30 to pass over the ends of the prongs thereby to lock the prongs in closed position.

The material employed in forming the holding means or device herein is usually sheet metal of tin structure or the like. Where thin metal like tin is employed, it is desired to have finger pieces 32 and 33 provided on the ends of the slide plate 26 so as to eliminate cutting of the fingers. Any suitable means may be provided for accomplishing this result, but the finger pieces shown have been found to be satisfactory.

In the preferred form of the invention the plate 26 in its expanded layout or blank form is substantially rectangular as shown in Fig. 8 and has the finger pieces 32 and 33 on the ends, as well as having the cover portion 3| extending from the main body. This slide plate is readily formed into the slide plate structure 26 shown in section in Fig. 5 and the finger pieces 32 and 33 are bent, as indicated in Fig. 7 so that they will cover the ends of the plate 26 as formed in the manner shown by cross-section in Fig. 5. The bent portion 4| eliminates any sharp edges for the thumb or finger to engage. This feature is desirable in view of thefact that considerable energy is required to unlock the prongs while in their closed position.

A modified form of finger portion is shown in Fig. 6 wherein a plate 42 is added in any suitable manner to the ends of slide plate 26, such as by having an extension of 26 which may be turned down forming plate 42. If desireda separate plate may be added and afiixed to position on the end of 25 in a suitable manner such as by welding.

With the improved structure herein it will be noted that the portable file, or loose-leaf binder, is provided with a very simple but very definite and effective locking means which allows these files to readily withstand very rough handling without failures.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and adapted and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, in a loose-leaf binder, a binder back, an upright mounted on said back, a plurality of prongs pivoted in said upright, a second upright mounted on said back and having slots for receiving the ends of said prongs, a slide plate associated with and. cooperating with said second upright to move over said slots to hold the prong ends in closed position in said second upright, and a knob on said slide plate movable as said slide plate is moved to closed position into engagement with one of said prong ends to materially resist movement of said slide plate toward its open position.

2. In combination in a loose-leaf binder, a binder back, a prong pivoted in said binder back, means mounted on said binder back for receiving and locking the free end of said prong in closed or holding position, said receiving and locking means including a holder with an opening therein for receiving the end of the prong and a cover for closing at least a part of said opening to hold said prong end in said opening, and a knob on said cover adapted for positive engagement with said prong to prevent the cover from moving to open position without the definite act of positively pushing said knob over said prong.

3. In combination in a loose-leaf binder, a binder back, a plurality of prongs pivoted in said binder back, upright means mounted in said binder back and being provided with slots for receiving the free ends of said prongs, a slide plate mounted on said upright means and adapted to slide along said upright means for holding said prongs in closed position, slots in said slide plate for registering with the slots in said upright to allow said prongs to move into closed position, a knob adjacent each opening in said slideplate for positive engagement with said prongs to prevent said slide plate from moving to open position without the definite act of positively pushing said knobs over said prongs.

4. In combination in a loose-leaf binder, a

binder back, a plurality of prongs pivoted in said binder back, an upright having slots therein for receiving the free ends of said prongs, a slide plate mounted on said upright and adapted to be oscillated, said plate having a cover portion bent to move over the top of said upright to close the openings in said upright and to have the ends of the pron'gs engage the same, said cover portion having slots that register with the slots in said upright to allow the prong ends to be moved into closed position, knobs on said cover portion adjacent the slots therein for engagement with the sides of said prong ends to materially resist the movement of said slide plate with:

out the definite act of positively pushing said knobs over said prongs.

5. In combination in a loose-leaf binder, a binder back, a plurality of prongs pivoted in said binder back, an upright having slots therein for receiving the free ends of said prongs, a slide plate mounted on said upright and adapted to be oscillated, said plate having a cover portion bent to be positioned over the top of said upright to close the openings in said upright, said cover portion having slots that register with the slots in said upright to allow the prong ends to be moved to closed position, knobs on said cover portion adjacent the slots therein for engagement with the sides of said prong ends to materially resist the movement of said slide plate without the definite act of positively pushing said knobs over said prongs, and finger guards on the ends of said slide plate, said guards being curved to prevent cutting of the fingers.

6. In combination a loose-leaf binder, a binder back, covers attached to said back, a formed metal element with two uprights fastened to said binder back, a plurality of prongs mounted in one of said uprights and adapted to be moved to and from the second upright to receive loose leaves, slots in said second upright for receiving the ends of said prongs, a slide plate mounted on said second upright to have limited relative movement relative thereto, said slide plate being bent to form a cover over the top edge of said second upright, slots in said cover portion to register with the slots in said second upright to thereby allow the ends of said prongs to be received in said second upright, knobs on said cover portion at the edges of the slots therein for definite engagement with said prong ends to prevent said prongs from moving out of closed position without a definite force pushing said knobs over said prong ends, said second upright being flexible to allow it to be moved out of vertical position by pressing said prongs downwardly, engaging said slide plate and moving it and said second upright backwardly to a slight extent thereby to push back the knobs and slide plate from the vertical and allow the slide plate and knobs to move over the prong ends without much resistance, and protection pieces on the ends of said slide plate to form finger engagement elements for covering over the ends oi. said slide, plate.

ALBERT E. BUNNELL. 

